And just to be precise - the patent is not for recessed cockpit at all but for "invention relates to wooden kayaks made of wooden panels that are stitched together and glued at the joints, after which the entire kayak is covered inside and out in fiberglass" so it might not be a concern for many. Anyway I'm pretty sure I've seen a recessed cockpit with plywood boats before 2002 year but obviously no one patented this before.